Al Wusta Region is situated to the south of both A’Dakhliah and A’Dhahirah Regions, at the east side it is linked to the Arabian Sea, at the west to the Empty Quarter and at the south to Governorate of Dhofar. It includes a large area of central parts of the Sultanate. It is distinguished for having a great number of oil wells.
This Region has been created in 1991 as an independent region in order to strengthen efforts since its cities and villages were part of A’Dakhliah and A’Sharqiyah Regions and Governorate of Dhofar. It consists of four wilayats: Hayma, Muhut, Doqum and Al Jazur.
Wilayat Hayma is situated in the center of the region, situated on the Muscat-Salalah road which links the Northern parts of' the Sultanate with the Southern parts. It is a desert area, therefore its people are migrating Bedouins. This wilayat is famous for its wild animals especially deer and Arabia Oryx which are found at (Jaluoni) area. This privilege is peculiar to this Region of Oman. The area of the Oryx sanctuary is approximately 25 thousand km². It has been listed by UNESCO in the World Heritage List. The other three wilayats arc situated at the coast over looking the Arabian Sea.
The government built schools, hospitals and mosques and dug artesian wells to provide the Region's population with drinking water. It also constructed roads to join the interior areas to the coastal areas as well as the other parts of the Sultanate, paramount among which is: Nizwa - Hayma - Thumrayt, which has been tarmaeed and gave Hayma a great importance - joining it with north and south of the Sultanate. It also resulted in seeing modern lift Features in the Region.
Tourist Attractions
Wilayat Haima
Wilayat Al Duqm
Wilayat Mahut
Wilayat Al Jazur
Wilayat Haima
It is a vast Wilayat located in the heart of the desert in the middle of the Sultanate of Oman. Neighbouring it in the south is the Governorate of Dhofar, in the north the Dakhaliya, and especially the Wilayat of Adam, in the east the desert of Rub' Al Khali and in the west the Arabian Sea.
It is almost mid-way between Muscat and Salalah, 540 km from Muscat and about 500 km from Salalah in the Governorate of Dhofar.
In the Wilayat of Haima there are some tourist features such as caves. The most outstanding is the cave of Al Raki which is located in the north east of Ja'aluni, water emerges from this cave but it is not potable. There is also Al Masak cave which hasearth's surface. It can be reached through an opening with a sloping path. The fourth cave is called Qataar and there is water in it but it is not drinkable. There are also, besides the caves, 3 springs. One of them is called "Buyi Al Huja" which is a vast rock standing on a rocky foundation forming natural shade.
The second is called "Al Asla" and it is located in south west Al Habur, the lower part of it consisting of a column of rock, with stones rising above it, also providing natural shade.
The third spring is Qarn Alnuz which is characterized by salt dunes.
In addition to these natural tourist features there is a modern feature in the Wilayat which was first devised at the beginning of the 1970's by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. His Majesty's directives established "the Arabian Oryx Reserve” in Wadi Ja'aluni in the Jiddat Al Harasis which the International Committee of Heritage of Unesco added to its list of "places of World Heritage". Harasis is considered a place for tourism and an important one for those interested in the preservation of wild animals and the environment.
Wilayat Al Duqm
It is located in the south eastern corner of Al Wusta, neighbouring the Wilayat of Mahut in the north, the Wilayat of Jazur in the south, the Wilayat of Haima in the west and in the east the Arabian Sea. There are more than 4,276 inhabitants living in about 23 villages.
Despite the preference of the people of Duqm to emigrate north, to the Wilayats of the Dakhaliya, during the period they call "the Flood" the weather in the Wilayat of Duqm during the 3 months from June to September is wonderful summer weather. There is no need to use air conditioning during this period. This unique weather is very like the autumn season in Dhofar. There are a number of beaches on the Arabian Sea. The wonderful beaches of Duqm are characterized by their cleanness, the blueness of the unpolluted water, the purity of the soft sand and the winds which have a tendency to be cool. There is the beach of Al Shu'ir, which is about 20 kilometres from the centre of the Wilayat. Scattered about are the empty houses of the fishermen which await the return of their families from the north. Another beach is called the "tourist camps" by the people who arrive by car from the neighbouring Gulf countries, coming from the Wilayat of Ibri in Al Dahira to spend some time among their brother Omanis in the agreeable weather of this region, which being triangular in shape thrusts into the waters of the Arabian Sea with beaches on all sides. Ras Madruka beach is about 80 kilometres from the centre of the Wilayat.
In addition there are some areas which have natural scenery and rare geological formations making an artistic tableau drawn by skillful fingertips able to embody dreams. The Ashtaan area is a vast low area covered with green trees and surrounded by Rocky Mountains. It is about 20 km from the centre of the Wilayat of Duqm in the direction of Sanaw.
The most outstanding wadis of Duqm are Wadi Naqaw, Wadi Al Dabak and Wadi Saai which is about 2 kilometres from the centre of the Wilayat on the paved road to Sanaw in the Sharqiya.
The unique climate in the Wilayats of Al Wusta and its subsidiary areas is obvious when going from the Wilayat of Haima towards Wadi Jalouni, where Jiddat Al Harasis is located. Here the temperature rises remarkably during the summer months, however, on arrival at the Al 'Ajaaiz region which begins at the Wilayat of Duqm, the temperature drops accompanied by a cold wind and it remains thus until the Dhahar region. It continues low during the descent from that raised area to the centre of the coastal Wilayat which is a few kilometres from Dhahar.
The beaches of the Wilayat of Duqm are characterized by caves which were previously used as a refuge from the rains and various climatic fluctuations.
Wilayat Mahut
It neighbours in the north the Wilayat of Mudaibi, which is part of the Sharqiya, in the north west the Wilayat of Adam, part of the Dakhaliya, in the south west the Wilayat of Duqm, and in the north east the Wilayat of Ja'alan Bani Bu 'Ali, part of the Sharqiya.
There are about 32 villages with 9,761 people. It was one of the most important ports in previous times. It was famous for ship-building and for transporting travellers and goods from Oman to India, East Africa and other parts of the African continent, carrying Omani products and returning with goods which were not produced at that time in Oman.
There are three islands in the Wilayat, the most important is the island of Mahut covered with "Qaram" trees, the island of Jaz with superb natural scenery and the island of Ab which has a great number of sea birds like the seagull and heron, besides other types of migratory birds. Beaches in the Wilayat of Mahut are, Kanasa, Las Ruis, Al Khulaf, Bantut, Ras Al Zakhar and Ras khaba Sarab.
Wilayat Al Jazur
Located on the south coast of Al Wusta, in the north is the Wilayat of Duqm, in the south the Wilayat of Shalim, which is part of the Governorate of Dhofar, in the west the Wilayat of Haima and in the east the Arabian Sea.There are about 12 villages in the Wilayat with over 5832 inhabitants.
The Wilayat of Jazur like the other coastal Wilayats of Al Wusta - Duqm and Mahut - has a number of beaches. The most important are in the reaion of Rima which is about 50 kms fromKhudra and Khudra Al Jazur where there are villages which benefit from free services.
The Wadis of 'Ail Al Khudra, Wadi Kaisar and Al Sabil, located on the beach have villages with "Samar" trees in the middle of them. Madhar and Fadhil beaches are the same. On the side of Rima there are two subsidiary areas which are part of the Wilayat of Jazur - Al Lakabi and Surara.
Traditional Occupations
Wilayat Haima
Wilayat Al Duqm
Wilayat Mahut
Willayat Al Jazur
Wilayat Haima
The Wilayat of Haima has a number of traditional arts and industries. The industries are, spinning and weaving, for which they depend on local raw materials such as goats’ hair and other animals they raise there. The desert women also excel in weaving palm fronds, deriving an income from these hand crafted articles in various artistic shapes and designs.They also make natural leather goods.
Traditional occupations are animal husbandry and pasturage of camels and goats. The Wilayat of Haima is characterized by its folk medicine, made from plants which are found in the desert.
There is a plant called "Darma" which they use, after drying and crushing it, to make a solution for use with water or milk to absorb the gases in the alimentary canal. It is taken twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening before sleeping. It is also useful for regulating the blood.
The "Al Harmal" tree (African Rue), is a cure for headaches and colds. This tree is also used, after boiling, to cure skin diseases, especially allergies, by means of "Al Sabur" mixed in water with it. The "Ramrum" tree is used as an antidote for snake bites and scorpion stings.
Wilayat Al Duqm
Its coastline stretches for a distance of 170 kilometres on the shores of the Arabian Sea and most of its inhabitants work in the fishing industry. During what is called " the period of the flood", which lasts for 3 months, from June to the end of September - the temperature drops to less than 30 degrees centigrade and it is not suitable for fishing, The fishermen, therefore, journey to the Wilayats of the Dakhaliya, especially the Wilayat of Adam where they work in agriculture during the season for collecting dates. They call this "the summer journey". On their return to their homes on the coast of Duqm - in winter - they carry stores of dates to suffice for the rest of the year. This has been their way of life for many years. However, the distance they cross between the present Wilayat of Dugm and the Wilayats of the Dakhaliya - Adam and Nizwa before 1970, took 5 days by camel or donkey, and about 10 for the return - because of the loads of dates.
The inhabitants of Duqm are primarily fishermen but they also practice pasturage and make some handicrafts. Likewise they make "Al Kharuj", "Al Shamal" and "Al Karm" and practice spinning and weaving dependent on local raw products such as goats’ hair etc.
Wilayat Mahut
Most of the inhabitants of the Wilayat carry out shing and pasturage and animal husbandry besides some agriculture. There are now about 70 arms producing vegetables, dates and animal odder.
Traditional industries are spinning and weaving, 'Khuruj" and "Al Ghali" which they make from "hair" and are used as covers for camp sites and also as blankets which are called "Al 'Aina".
Willayat Al Jazur
The people of the Wilayat make farm tools and fishing nets, as it has a number of beaches on the the Arabian Sea. They also make boats from animal skins, and weave palm leaves.
